Chapter 39
Caspian’s POV
The world goes still as Chase speaks the words I’ve been dreading for weeks. Viviane is an unregistered mermaid. I suppose it was inevitable that some of my men would figure it out eventually, but I’d still hoped the secret would remain between my mate and me.
“What makes you think that?” I respond, not confirming or denying his assertion. My wolf’s hackles are raised, a sensation I have never experienced with my best friend.
“For weeks you’ve been sending us all over the territory, trying to sniff out traffickers and refugee settlements in the city. That’s all fine – those are things we would want investigated anyway, but it always seemed strange that you were only using us: Never the enforcers, never coordinating with Jasper’s team.”
Chase crosses the room as he speaks, hands gesticulating to emphasize his solemn words. “This whole time, I’ve been asking myself: Why the secrecy? Why the sudden interest in mermaids?” He asks simply, “But I never questioned you because I trusted that you would tell me if there was something I needed to know.”
He’s directly across from my desk now, both confidence and hurt visible in his countenance. “And then Nerissa comes in here making accusations about your mate being a mermaid herself, accusations to which you severely overreacted.” He adds.“You can’t tell me those things are unrelated.”
I compress my lips to a hard line, trying to decide how to respond. On one hand it seems irrational, not to mention unfeasible, to keep him in the dark. On the other, we’re talking about my mate’s safety – there is no such thing as being too careful.
“Caspian, for fucks’ sake we’ve been friends since we were pups!” He bursts out, unable to stand the silence.
Taking a long, steadying breath, I explain, “You’ll understand when you find your mate.”
“I might understand now if you’d talk to me!” Chase argues.
I scrub my hand over my face, slumping into my chair. “I trust you more than anyone, Chase – more than anyone I’ve ever known.” I begin, “And logically I know that there is nothing I can’t tell you… But the bond isn’t logical. It doesn’t care what we’ve been through together, it doesn’t know any bounds.”
Viviane’s face appears in my mind, and I feel a deep pang in my chest. “There is only one rule: my mate comes first. She will always come first, and there isn’t anything I can do to talk or reason my wolf out of those instincts.”
Chase’s face has twisted itself up into a concerned grimace. “What are you saying, Caspian?”
“I’m saying I made Viviane a promise that I would never betray her secret.” I look him dead in the eye, imploring him to understand. “I’m saying the more people that know – no matter how worthy or trusted – increases the chances of others finding out, increases the chances that harm will come to my mate.” I bring my fist down on the desk, losing steam towards the end so only a dull thump resounds. “And I cannot allow that.”
Chase searches my face for a long moment, and my wolf grunts in confusion, struggling to process such conflicting feelings about the two most important people in our life.
In the end, my Beta offers up a subdued sigh, meeting my gaze with sympathy and determination.
“What do you need me to do?”
Viviane’s POV
“So, there are entire mermaid settlements in Asterion?” Kiera asks with wide eyes.
“For now.” I frown. “If the disappearances continue I don’t think staying here will be an option.”
“What does that mean for you?” She inquires softly.
Shrugging, I answer, “I honestly don’t know.” It seems my options are more complicated now than ever. “I know Caspian would protect me – obviously.” I gesture to my luxurious new home with a small snort. “But he’s too much of an Alpha to understand… it’s like he thinks he can just snap his fingers and make all these problems go away. Every time I try to talk to him about it, he simply says he won’t allow people to not accept me; as if he can issue an edict and wipe out prejudice overnight.”
Kiera’s eyebrows disappear beneath her bangs, “I thought you said he was smart?”
“It’s not about intelligence,” I defend, shaking my head, “That might be easier to deal with.” Emitting a heavy sigh, I continue. “No, it’s hard headedness, and being so used to authority; being able to intimidate everyone around him to obey his wishes. He thinks he can fix this the same way.”
“But it doesn’t work that way.” Kiera contends, “We’re talking about people’s feelings, biases that have been cultivated over entire generations, that are endemic in our society.”
“You know that, and I know that.” I agree, flopping back on the sofa. “The question is how I can make Caspian see that, no matter what he does, I can never be his Luna.”
“I have no idea.” My friend admits, glancing at me hesitantly, “Do you think you might leave, if it came to it?”
“If things got bad enough?” I propose gravely, “If it came to choosing between Caspian and sacrificing my future, or putting my mother and other mermaids in danger? Yes.” Closing my hand over hers, I squeeze softly. “It would kill me, but I’ve survived lots of things that should have killed me before. I can do it again.”
The corners of Kiera’s mouth tug downward; denial, then determination flitting across her features. “We should go to the settlements.”
“What?” That was the last thing I expected her to say.
“I want to see them.” She shares, “And maybe we can do some investigating. No one else is going to do it and you don’t smell like a mermaid, so even if a trafficker did come along, they wouldn’t be able to identify you.”
It’s an intriguing idea. “I haven’t been there in a really long time.” I confess, “I am kind of curious.”
“Not to mention you haven’t been anywhere but this house and school in ages.” Kiera points out.
“I would love to get out.” I agree, looking toward my mother’s bedroom. “We should bring Mom if she feels up to it, she’s the one with all the contacts, and it always does her good to see her old friends.”
“Of course. The real question is how we can get out of here without being followed.” Kiera ponders, eyeing the window. “It is only the second floor.”
“Oh right, we can just make a rope out of bed sheets.” I scoff.
“Why not?” Kiera shrugs, “We lower you and Marina down, then I can pull the sheets back in and go out the front door like usual. The door guards won’t know you’re gone, and the sentries won’t see the rope.”
“You’re out of your mind.” I exclaim.
“Come on, Viv. Live a little.” Kiera encourages, “when was the last time you did something young and foolish just for the fun of it?”
“Never.” I confess.
“Well then come on!” She jumps to her feet, “You get Marina, I’ll get the sheets.”
The settlement is even more awful than I remember.
I know it’s not the only one in Asterion, but I’m praying it’s the worst – not because I want the people here to suffer, but because the thought of anyone living in conditions more dire than these is simply unfathomable.
When Mom and I lived here, we shared a tin shack with another family. We were one hovel out of dozens, situated in a forgotten corner of the city beneath an old railway bridge. It was dirty and cold, food was scarce one day and gone the next, and every last inhabitat bore the haunted look of those who have lost everything and given up all hope of ever reclaiming it.
There are more shacks now, but it seems every other dwelling is empty – perfect friezes of lives interrupted. It really does look like people disappeared on the spot: leaving laundry half-washed and meals half eaten.
Kiera and I duck into a few of the abandoned dwellings while Mom talks with one of the eldest mermaids remaining in the settlement, standing with their heads bent closely together and grim looks on their faces. “You really lived here?” Kiera asks, gaping in horror as a half-naked merman fights a stray dog for a scrap of bread in the middle of the street.
“It wasn’t quite this bad then.” I grimace, stopping in front of a familiar doorway. “This was ours. But Mom and I were lucky,” I amend as Kiera ducks inside. “I was still able to produce tears, and we had the pheromone spray so I could sell the pearls without anyone thinking I was anything but a pickpocket. The money made it possible for us to buy fake papers and they helped Mom get a job. We were still saving up in hopes of getting out of here when Mom met Mordred.”
Kiera, who has been listening intently, pulls me into a hug. “I’m so sorry, Viviane. This is… unspeakable”
“Don’t be sorry for me.” I murmur. “I got out.”
She opens her mouth to reply when her brow suddenly furrows, and she tilts her head up to scent the air. It takes mere moments for all the blood to drain from her face. “Viviane, I think…”
“What’s wrong?” I prompt, sensing her urgency.
She shakes her head vigorously, “No, I think I’m imagining things, you said his name and it just–”
“Whose name?” I croak, clutching her arms. “Mordred’s? You thought you smelled Mordred?”
A second before a tall, shadowy figure rounds the corner, Kiera pulls me into my old house, hiding us from sight. Pure terror coats her tongue. “he’s here.”
